Any human activity is impossible without the means of labor. That is, without all those objects, mechanisms, tools with which the final product is created. In the modern world, special attention is paid to the improvement of technology. The easier it is to interact with the means of labor, the greater the efficiency of production.
Basic concepts
From the point of view of economic theory, the question of what the production process is, one can give the following answer: this is a sequence of some actions that result in the conversion of material and raw materials into finished products. Consider the most common example: how to make a stool? At the beginning, boards are taken, and in the end, a finished object for sitting is obtained. The whole process is the interaction of three main components:
- Man - labor.
- Boards - the subject of labor.
- Saws, a hammer, nails - means of labor.
The subject of labor always plays a passive role. These are exactly the things, materials that transform into something else. But conversion cannot be done without tools.
So, means of labor are objects or tools necessary for the production of goods and services.
Financial view
The financial vocabulary gives a slightly expanded interpretation. In it, the means of labor are considered as a complex designation of everything that relates to the enterprise and helps to participate in the transformation of objects of labor. In this case, a concept is considered that covers both buildings and devices.
The impact can be not only mechanical, but also physical, chemical. In this case, all the necessary components, reagents, devices will also belong to the basic concept.
This approach is very important for the financial issue. Since all means of labor are accounted for on the balance sheet of an enterprise, their classification must be clearly understood.
From the history
How long have the means of labor come about? As far as we know, the first tools to help people get food came about 2 million years ago. These were primitive devices: manual choppers, disk axes, wood carvers. There was no manufacturing technology of the tools themselves. Humanoid monkeys just used the stones of the desired shape.
The further evolution took place, the more tools were improved. Until, finally, people did not begin to generalize existing knowledge and introduce the concept of a means of production. The means of labor in these times (late 19th century) became the main subject of discussion.
In his theory, K. Marx paid the greatest attention to manpower and methods of interaction with various tools.
The main provisions of the theory of K. Marx
Prior to Marxist theory, all predecessors considered political economy from the point of view of its material value, or the benefits to the national economy. K. Marx said that a huge sphere cannot be considered without taking into account the most important thing - the reproduction process. Based on the works of A. Smith, D. Ricardo and others, K. Marx and F. Engels formed their doctrine, in the center of which was man and means of labor.
From this point of view, scientists have identified five historical periods. Each of these stages is characterized by common features: religious movements, political concepts, types of relations. And all this was reflected in the methods of production. These are the periods:
- Primitive community.
- Slaveholding.
- Feudal.
- Capitalist.
- Communist.
Thanks to K. Marx, a modern concept of the cost of labor was formed. It was he who, for the first time for his time, touched on the issues of increasing the cost of goods in the process of its transformation. He said that the use of means of labor is not only what we see: a machine tool, a hammer, a drawing, but also another abstract side, in which we need to include the costs of human mental activity.
C. Mars definition
K. Marx gives such a definition to the means of labor: this is one thing or their combination that a person places between himself and the subject of labor. They are used as intermediaries or vehicles from thought to action. We thought that it was necessary to fasten the part in this place, which means we took a hammer (tool) and drove a nail.
Types of labor
Depending on the original source, two large groups can be distinguished:
- Natural means of labor are those that nature gave to man; he uses them in economic activity. Here are some examples. Fertile land - wheat is grown on them, rivers - the energy of the water gives electricity. Separately, some scientists include in this category the domestication of wild animals, which are now considered domestic: cows, horses, dogs, hens, etc.
- Technical - created by man. There are a lot of types of technical means.
Technical means of labor
Consider the enlarged classification using the table
Group | Appointment |
Building | Constructed to create favorable conditions for a continuous production process |
Facilities | Despite the fact that they were created as buildings, they are directly involved in the manufacturing process of something. For example, blast furnaces. |
Power plants | Are sources of energy |
Working machines and apparatus | They are considered the main tools on which the process of converting one product into another takes place. |
Tool and fixtures | With their help, a person acts on an object. |
Household equipment | They are mandatory, but do not directly participate in the manufacturing technology. They service the main machines and tools: clean, clean, tidy up. |
Transport | It is the link between the individual stages of the production process. |
Occupational Safety and Health
Labor protection is a set of measures aimed at protecting the employee, his health and well-being during the performance of his duties.
Labor protection means are individual devices, the main function of which is to reduce the negative impact of the harmful environment. They can be divided into two large groups:
- To protect the respiratory system (gas mask, bandage, respirator);
- To cover the skin (cloak, overalls, gloves, hats).
This is an enlarged classification and fixed assets that should be in every enterprise.
Collective defense
Any entrepreneur should take care of safe working conditions and do everything possible to prevent accidents and disasters. This is the essence of collective labor protection. The most dangerous are the occurrence of fires. Labor protection from fires:
- Primary funds (water, sand, earth).
- Fire equipment and inventory, which should always be located in an accessible area.
The last category includes: shovels, buckets, fire extinguishers. The greater the risk of fire in the workplace, the more attention should be paid to methods for quickly localizing fire. Each employee should be informed of the possible dangers associated with his activities and methods for their prevention.
conclusions
The main means of labor are those tools, assemblies, structures that help a person reproduce a product from raw materials and primary materials. They can be classified according to various parameters, but even at home we face dozens of objects every day that make our life easier. If you look theoretically, then the first means of labor is a wooden club, found by a humanoid monkey.